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Illinois Public Media

Cook County Man Dies from West Nile Virus

Illinois health officials say a Cook County man has become the first person this year to die after contracting the West Nile virus.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said Tuesday that the man was in his 60s and had underlying health conditions. He was diagnosed with the virus in August and died earlier this month.

Officials say eight human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in Illinois this summer. The first two were reported Aug. 19 - involving a Cook County man in his 80s and a Franklin County man in his 30s.

The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that pick up the virus after feeding on infected birds.

Symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches - though most people will show no symptoms at all.